Shoe



March 21, 1939. A. LEONE ET AL Filed May 17, 1957 INVENTOR fiAQ/J M BY albwt Lu-l ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 21, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHOE New York Application May 17, 1937, Serial No. 143,018

3 Claims.

This invention relates to shoes and more particularly to ladies dancing shoes and slippers.

One object of the present invention is to provide a dancing shoe or slipper having a forward 5 sole portion characterized by substantial flexibility and pad-like softness.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a dancing shoe or slipper which has great flexibility and pad-like softness in its forward sole portion and which is characterized by substantial stiffness and rigidity in the shank and heel portion thereof.

A yet further object of the invention is generally to provide an improved dancing shoe, particularly a shoe or slipper which is light in weight and comfortable when worn.

The above objects of the invention and other objects Which might hereinafter appear will be fully understood from the following description considered with reference to the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a shoe embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view, on a larger scale, of part of the bottom of the shoe shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view, on a larger scale, of the forward part of the shoe with parts removed;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5--5 of Fig. 2

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing in detail the shoe iii embodying the present invention is as here shown a shoe of the open-upper type and comprises an outsole I2, a heel M, an insole I6 covered by a sock lining I8, and an upper constituted by a combined ankle and instep strap 20 and forward straps 22.

Theinsole it of the shoe has a relatively thick and stiff leather portion 24, which extends from F the rear of the heel seat substantially to the ball line of the shoe, and a forward portion 26 which is very thin and highly flexible and which extends from the forward end of the portion 24 to the front end of the shoe. As shown more clearly in Figs. 3 and 4 the portions 24 and 26 are secured together by a line of zig-zag stitching 28 disposed transversely of the shoe substantially at the ball line thereof. The insole I6 is provided with an edge binding 35 of suitable ornamental 55 or edge finishing material extending completely therearound and secured preferably by a suitable adhesive to the upper and lower surfaces of the insole in portions 24 and 26 thereof, thus imparting a finished appearance to the edge of the insole which is visible through the open parts of the upper. The upper surface of the insole is covered by the sock lining i8 which overlies said surface for the full width and length thereof in overlapping relation to the edge binding 30. Materials such as cloth or leather similar to the material of the shoe upper may be used to advantage for the edge binding and sock lining, thus to match the shoe upper.

The outsole l2 comprises a heel and shank portion 32 which is composed of relatively stiff leather and extends from the rear of the heel seat between the latter and the insole to substantially the ball line of the shoe Where it is joined with a thin, flexible and soft portion 34 by a line of stitching 36. Instead of being stitched or in addition to stitching, the rear and forward outsole parts 32 and 34 may be adhesively secured in overlapping relation as shown. The heel and shank portion 32 of the outsole is made of outsole leather of suitable thickness and stiffness for imparting substantial rigidity to the heel and shank portion of the shoe. The forward portion 34 comprises a layer of suitable material which is soft and flexible and preferably is made of leather known as elkskin which is soft, highly flexible and pliable. The smooth grain side of said elkskin is disposed at the outer surface of the shoe bottom. It will be understood that the forward edge of the thick leather portion 32 of the outsole is skived or otherwise reduced in thickness and tapered toward the forward edge thereof where it is stitched to the elkskin layer 34. It will be also understood that the rear marginal edge portion of said elkskin layer is also skived thin in the portion thereof which overlaps the forward edge portion of the shank part 32 of the outsole. Also as clearly shown in Fig. 2 the forward edge 38 of the shank part 32 of the outsole is forked providing a bifurcated forward edge portion whereby to eliminate bulkiness and to provide a less abrupt change in the flexibility at the juncture between the stiff leather part 32 and the soft and pliable elkskin part 34. An edge binding strip 4!] composed of thin leather or other suitable material is stitched to the outer edge of elkskin layer 34 by a line of stitching 42 and is folded over the inner surface of said elkskin layer and secured in position by lines of sitching 44.

Filler strips 43 are disposed in the spaces between the overlapping marginal edge portions 48 of the upper to compensate for the thickness of said upper portions. A thin layer 50 of cork filling material having an adhesive binder is disposed over the under surface of the forward insole portion 26 and a layer 52 of soft felt or other pad material is disposed between the elkskin layer 34 of the outsole and the layer 50 of cork filling material in the forward portion of the shoe bottom inwardly of the overlapped upper portions 48. A metal shank stiffener 54 is disposed between the insole and outsole at the shank of the shoe and terminates at its forward edge 56 just rearwardly of the ball line, that is, just rearwardly of the line of stitching 28 by which the insole portions 24 and 26 are attached to each other. Filler strips 58 are disposed at the sides of said shank piece and extend longitudinally of the shank of the shoe between the rear end of the forward upper portion 22 and the forward end of the rear upper portion 20 to compensate for the thickness of the upper which, in this type of shoe, is omitted in the shank of the shoe. A tapered filler member 60 is disposed at the forward end of shank stiffener 54.

It will be understood that in making the shoe of the above described construction the parts may be assembled and secured together in any suitable way. It is preferred, however, to utilize the well-known process of making cemented shoes according to which the insole, the outsole, and the upper are cemented together. According to this method also the filler strips 46, 58, 60 and the metal shank stiffener 54 are similarly adhesively secured in position. To facilitate the adhesive attachment of said shank stiffener it may be encased in a fabric sheath (not shown). The felt pad 52 need be attached, if'at all, only in small front and rear areas 53.

Thus, it is seen that the construction herein shown and described is well adapted to accomplish the objects of the invention. It will be understood, however, that the invention may be embodied otherwise than as here shown. For example, the forward portion 26 of the insole instead of being made of thin insole leather such as that split from the flesh side of a sole blank, may be constituted by a layer split from the flesh side of the elkskin utilized for the outsole portion 34, or the insole portion 26 may be formed integral with the insole portion 24 which may be of reduced thickness in which case the entire insole may be thin throughout its area or it may be reduced in thickness only at its forward portion. Also in lieu of a portion 25 extending for the full width of the shoe, there may be utilized an insole rand piece attached to or integral with an insole shank member as in the Sbicca method of making shoes, in which case the cork filling layer 52 will be disposed in the opening outlined by said rand to fill said opening, the sock lining l8 concealing said cork filling and providing a smooth surface for the foot of the wearer. Numerous other changes in the construction and arrangement 'of parts may be made. Therefore, we do not wish to be limited precisely to the constructions herein shown and described except as may be required by the appended claims considered with reference to the prior art.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A ladys dancing shoe or the like comprising an upper, an insole which is; very thin and soft at the forward portion of the shoe from the ball line to the toe, an outsole having a very thin and soft forward portion consisting of a thin and soft layer of sheet material such as elkskin extending from the ball line to the toe and from side edge to side edge of the shoe and a. relatively thick and stiff shank and heel portion, substantially the entire portion of the shoe bottom for the full thickness thereof from the ball line to the toe being characterized by high flexibility, pliability and pad-like softness and the portion of the shoe bottom rearwardly of the ball line being characterized by substantial rigidity, and a binding strip stitched to the edge of said layer of sheet material and secured at the upper marginal edge portion thereof.

2. A ladys dancing shoe or the like comprising an upper, an, insole having a thin and soft portion forwardly of the ball line and a relatively thick and stiff portion rearwardly of the ball line, an outsole having a very thin and soft portion consisting of a thin and soft layer of sheet material such as elkskin extending forwardly of the ball line to the toe and from side edge to side edge of the shoe and a relatively thick and stiff portion extending rearwardly of the ball line, and a soft and pliable pad of felt or similar material disposed between said soft forward portions of the insole and outsole whereby the entire part'of the shoe bottom for the full thickness thereof forwardly of the ball line is characterized by high flexibility, pliability and padlike softness, and a binding stitched to the edge of said elkskin layer and cemented to the upper marginal surface thereof.

3. A ladys dancing shoe or the like comprising an upper, an insole having a thin and soft por-- tion forwardly of the ball line and a relatively thick and stiff portion rearwardly of the ball line, an outsole having a very thin and soft portion extending forwardly of the ball line to the toeand from side edge to side edge of the shoe and a relatively thick and stiff portion extending rearwardly of the ball line, said forward part of the outsole consisting of thin and soft elkskin and said rear part of the outsole joined thereto substantially at the ball line of the shoe externally thereof and comprising relatively stiff sole leather, a layer of soft felt disposed between said forward portions of the insole and outsole substantially the entire forward portion of the shoe bottom for the full thicknessthereof from the outer tread surface to the inner surface of the insole forwardly of the ball line being characterized by high flexibility, pliability and pad-like softness,,and the part of the shoe rearwardly of the ball line being characterized by substantial rigidity.

ALBERT LEONE.

LEO SHOL'IZ. 

